Emily Dickinson Lexicon

COCK'NEY, n. [Most probably from L. coquina, a kitchen, or coquino, to cook; Fr. coquin, idle; Fr. cocagne, It. cuccagna, an imaginary country of idleness and luxury. In some ancient poetry, the word seems to signify a cook. “And yet I say by my soul I have no salt bacon, / Ne no cokeney by Christe coloppes to make.” “At that feast were they served in rich array, / Every five and five had a cokeney.” See note on Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, line 4206. Edinburgh, 1782. Hence, a citizen who leads an idle life, or never leaves the city.]

1. A native of London, by way of contempt. – Watts. Shak.
2. An effeminate, ignorant, despicable citizen. – Shak.